Sporting News • 6th September 2018

White Sox's Michael Kopech found ‘inner peace’ through meditation on way to majors

Equipped with a fastball that sits a tick below 100, it’s easy for Michael Kopech to overwhelm a hitter. The 22-year-old flamethrower has done plenty of that through his first four big league outings — though he allowed seven earned runs in, what would be, his final start of the season on Wednesday. Prior to that, Kopech had struck out nine over 11 scoreless frames to start his MLB career.

Sporting News • 31st July 2018

The MLB trade deadline through the eyes, minds of players

With MLB’s July 31 trade deadline looming, chatter only increases. Cell phones are extensions of a general manager’s body this time of year. The same goes for reporters and fans, all clamoring for the latest semi-scoop. But what about the players?

Sporting News • 23rd July 2018

Despite their similarities, Aaron Boone and Mickey Callaway trending in different directions

The similarities between Aaron Boone and Mickey Callaway are easily identified. Both are former players turned beginner managers, both are trying to make it in New York. In April, their jobs were more or less the same: connect and contend. The Yankees brought Boone in to replace a grizzled Joe Girardi despite falling one game shy of the World Series; Callaway took the reigns from Terry Collins with the Mets still hopeful that their window had not yet closed.

Sporting News • 17th July 2018

Braves' Nick Markakis is finally an All-Star — whether he likes it or not

Nick Markakis cherishes his summer vacation. It’s a chance for him to spend time with his wife and three boys while his body recovers in the midst of a marathon. He’s become accustomed to a mini-retreat each July, unwinding at home while baseball’s elite live it up at the Midsummer Classic.

Sporting News • 18th June 2018

Jason Giambi knows his future is back in an MLB dugout — just not yet

The only team Jason Giambi has any desire to coach right now is his son’s tee-ball squad, but he envisions moving up a few levels down the road. After spending a 20-year career with the Athletics, Yankees, Rockies and Indians, the former first baseman has enjoyed family life in Las Vegas since retiring following the 2014 season. With three kids ages 1 to 6, Giambi is in no rush to get back in the game. Yet he acknowledges he has managerial aspirations.

Sporting News • 10th June 2018

After bumpy 2016, Yankees’ Luis Severino has been nothing but an ace

The Yankees can thank a stranger in a grocery store for their ace, at least a little bit. It was 2016 and Luis Severino was back in New York. In the midst of a stressful year, he decided to run some errands. Severino can’t remember exactly when the encounter took place, but he recalls the “random guy” walking up to him in the aisle, telling him that everything was going to be OK.

Sporting News • 13th May 2018

From Little League to Boston, Mookie Betts' mom has never stopped coaching him

The coach-pitch level of Little League offers little distance between the mound and the plate, but cat-like reflexes are rarely required when tossing to 4- and 5-year-olds. With her son at-bat, however, Diana Benedict was caught off guard. This was more than two decades ago, long before exit velo — not that children would have such tools at their disposal — but Benedict swears it was a "rocket."

Sporting News • 9th May 2018

Indians’ Trevor Bauer talks pine tar, spin rate, experiments and more

Indians hurler Trevor Bauer made waves last week when he suggested the use of foreign substances by pitchers was a rampant issue in baseball. Bauer, who has always taken a scientific approach to his career, said the implication was based on experiments he had performed to see what substances like pine tar could do to a pitcher’s spin rate. Speaking with Sporting News, Bauer discussed his research and why foreign substances and spin rates are such a big deal.

Sporting News • 8th May 2018

Yankees found a million ways to win in the Bronx heading into series vs. Red Sox

Where there’s a will, there’s a way. It’s cliché, and yet there may not be a better encapsulation of the Yankees right now. Deprived of an off day between April 19 and May 6, New York went 16-2 over the 18-day stretch. More impressively, the Yankees are a combined 9-1 over their last 10 games, all of which came against the Angels, Astros and Indians.

Sporting News • 4th May 2018

From friendly to fiery, Yankees' Sabathia comfortable being himself in any situation

NEW YORK — CC Sabathia was in no mood for a conversation. He just wanted some damn consistency behind the plate. "Don't talk to me,” the Yankees lefty appeared to bark at an approaching Angel Hernandez in Anaheim on April 29. “Call f—ing strikes!"

Sporting News • 24th April 2018

How Twins pitcher José Berríos got so darn good

José Berríos’ last start was like no other. Toeing the rubber at Estadio Hiram Bithorn on April 18, the 23-year-old had already proclaimed this night to be the biggest of his young career. The Bayamon, Puerto Rico, product was home, participating in a two-game series on the island between his Twins and the Indians. With somewhere between 150 and 200 of Berríos’ closest relatives and friends set to attend, Minnesota tweaked its rotation so that the right-hander could spend his homecoming on the mound.

Sporting News • 23rd April 2018

Yankees' Gleyber Torres makes English a priority of his big-league experience

NEW YORK — As reporters huddled around his locker on Sunday, Gleyber Torres was hesitant to engage. The 21-year-old was fresh off of his long-awaited debut, but it was an 0-for-4 afternoon that featured a strikeout and seven runners left on base in a 5-1 Yankees win over the Blue Jays. Torres’ caution had nothing to do with his lackluster major league primer in the Bronx, though.

Sporting News • 21st April 2018

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. defies the odds in impressive Blue Jays debut

NEW YORK — It’s uncommon for a prospect to skip Triple-A. It’s even rarer when that player knocks in three runs in his major league debut. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. did exactly that on Friday night, though. Called up from New Hampshire earlier in the day, the Blue Jays second baseman introduced himself to The Show with two go-ahead singles at Yankee Stadium in an 8-5 Toronto win. The first rip — the first hit of Gurriel’s career — led him to cross his arms over his chest as he reached base.

Sporting News • 10th April 2018

Tampa native Denard Span at home in Rays uniform — and mom is thrilled

Denard Span was not impressed the first time he laid eyes on a Devil Rays uniform. The Tampa native was 14 or so and the team was brand new to Major League Baseball. In true 1990s style, the Devil Rays’ original home duds featured the team name in a spectrum of teal, green, yellow and purple on the front, underlined by the tail of a manta ray. The backs featured blocky names and numbers in all purple.

Sporting News • 5th April 2018

Rays' Matt Duffy not trying to replace Evan Longoria's presence in Tampa Bay

NEW YORK — Matt Duffy is not Evan Longoria. He knows this. He’s not trying to be. That’s not to say the 27-year-old doesn’t have plenty in common with the 11-year veteran and former face of the Rays franchise. The same two teams have defined their careers so far. Both are Southern California natives. Both went to California State University, Long Beach. They even share an agent.

Sporting News • 3rd April 2018

MiLB's Copa de la Diversión will celebrate Hispanic culture in baseball

It’s hard to tell whether John Traub is an executive or an equipment manager these days. The vice president and general manager of the Albuquerque Isotopes, Colorado’s Triple-A affiliate, can’t seem to escape apparel requests. When Traub visited big league camp in Arizona, Rockies head honchos greeted him by asking for Albuquerque’s new cap. One Isotope, outfielder Noel Cuevas, reached out via text message, hoping to get a jersey with his girlfriend’s name stitched across the back.

Sporting News • 3rd April 2018

Yankees manager Aaron Boone paying no attention to early second-guessers

NEW YORK — Welcome to managing. That was the message Aaron Boone received on his way to the airport Sunday night. The Yankees were fresh off a loss to the Blue Jays, one in which Boone made a questionable decision. With two out in the eighth, he had a consenting David Robertson walk a sore Josh Donaldson to pitch to Justin Smoak with the bases loaded.

Sporting News • 8th March 2018

A chat with Godzilla: Hideki Matsui on Yankees job, Shohei Ohtani, and adjusting to America

NEW YORK — Hideki Matsui last played in the majors in 2012, but the international star still finds himself connected to the game. Known as Godzilla during a 20-year career that spanned Japan, New York, California and Tampa Bay, Matsui is now doing what he can to give back to baseball at multiple levels. Speaking with Sporting News, he talked about retirement, working for the Yankees, transitioning to America and more.

Sporting News • 14th February 2018

MLB 2018: Mets must add to habitually unhealthy rotation to reach contender status

The Mets have a chance to contend in 2018. They really do. It may not seem like it after a 92-loss season that was preceded by similar sentiments, but if all goes well this team can at least make a run at a wild card.

Sporting News • 7th February 2018

Mets’ T.J. Rivera focused on fatherhood as Tommy John rehab continues

NEW YORK — Most baseball players would have a hard time calling Tommy John surgery a blessing. Mets infielder T.J. Rivera has good reason to make an exception, though. Rivera has yet to resume throwing since going under the knife Sept. 14, but he has taken on a new job in the meantime. The 29-year-old became a father Dec. 6. Since then, Ava Rose and Rivera’s wife, Ashton, have kept him extra busy.